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It seemed like just yesterday that Elibrie's entire existence had been turned upside-down and shaken, while also feeling like before and after Search were two completely different lives, a hundred Turns apart. Even this many months in, she was still not quite sure what to think about it all, whether it was good or bad or what she really wanted. To a certain extent, she just existed, drifting from one day to the next unil they all bled together as she waited for whatever was going to happen to happen.

She applied herself to her lessons and chores, accepting them all without objection; she had been raised to accept what she was told, after all, and more importantly, to accept what she was told to do and be. Though it had been meant to prepare her for marriage, it had also prepared her reasonably well for Candidacy, as it happened. She might not succeed at everything on her first try, or enjoy everything she was faced with, but she kept her head down and she did it. She might quietly commiserate with her sister about some of the dirtier or more difficult tasks at the end of the day, but was cautious and mindful of what she said in the presence of others so she wouldn't be thought fussy.

Time with her sister was a bright spot, as she had missed her terribly in the few months they'd been apart after Oranie had married. So too were visits with her little cousins, even if the, ah, relationship dynamic that had led to them was difficult for her to comprehend, and she shied away from trying to puzzle it out. And there was their friend Juhvek, who had taken them under his wing; Faranth only knew why the young man would bother, when surely he had more important things to do than shepherd the two of them about, but it was a kindness that she appreciated even if she didn't understand it.

Then there were her flits. The first, Lullaby, had essentially been a 'welcome to the Weyr!' gift from her aunt, and she adored him so very that when one of her aunt's sired a clutch, she had been unable to resist another egg in spite of warnings that the parents weren't the best-behaved or agreeable sorts. Lord Chomps was not too awful, really, just a bit territorial and protective. And greedy. But she loved him anyway. Perhaps it was a silly thing, but they made her happy in a way little else had even if she didn't know why, didn't understand that it was the simple, unconditional affection they supplied. Every little cheep and peep, every cuddle, every tiny boop, she adored. So she had - in a very roundabout and careful way because she was not accustomed to asking for things - implied that she would like another, and the subsequent egg had contained a third precious blue.

Her favorite time of day was when she could finally curl up on her cot with them, and fall asleep to Lullaby's gentle little hum while Snoop cuddled up close and Chomps set himself near the edge to better keep an eye out. Just in case. Today was a rest day, though, which meant the soothing little cuddlepile didn't have to just be a luxury for the very end of the day. Not that she was napping, no! Rather, she was studying, but it was a nice cuddlepile regardless.

The appearance of a fourth flit - and with quite the interesting prize! - startled a laugh out of Elibrie and a hiss out of Lord Chomps, but Lullaby and Snoop had only happy cheeps for the bronze. Snoop scuttled forward to investigate both the bronze and the ball of yarn, peep-peep-peeping busily as he did so. Friend! Thing!! Friend!!!

Elibrie had just leaned forward to snatch up Chomps and set him in her lap before he could start trouble when Lusialu appeared, and she looked up to smile warmly at the other Candidate. "Lusialu. Missing something?"

She didn't know the other girl well, but they were...something like family. Family-adjacent? In-laws? Something. Her aunt's situation had a way of twisting her stomach into uncomfortable knots: how could someone be with two people? Who were also with each other? How could three people all be together? Nevermind that the blue- and bronzeriders were quite intimidating regardless, with R'shahar the largest person she'd ever seen in her life and C'lusi being...being...she didn't even have a word for it, really. But Lusialu, at least, was much closer to Elibrie's idea of 'normal,' so she was a welcome sight.

Snoop trilled happily at the bronze and the fascinating prize he'd brought, and promptly started to bounce back and forth, trying to initiate play. The ball of yarn would be a fun thing to play with, he was sure! When Honeycomb dodged his bonded, the little blue hopped after him. Game!! Peep peep peep.

"It's okay," Elibrie assured her fellow Candidate with a genuine smile, "We don't mind. Do we, boys?" Though he'd no idea what was being said, of course, Lullaby cheeped in response, having learned early on that it pleased Elibrie to be responded to when she spoke to him. Chomps continued to lie in her lap and glower at the commotion, the grump.

To Elibrie, Honeycomb's antics were not only harmless, but adorably charming. Now, if the bronze had come in and started a real fuss, kicked up chaos with her trio, or messed up her things, she might not have been quite so enamored, but really, as much as she loved flits? She probably would have forgiven that, too, and even if she hadn't, well. She'd certainly never have said as much! It would have been terribly rude, and besides that, hers were hardly perfect. Except for Lullaby: he was a gem at all times.

Play!! Snoops hopped backwards when Honeycomb tried to pounce, then bounced into a quick playbow before spinning himself in a tight circle and popping back up, all done with running series of cheeps and peeps. He did pause to peep sadly-curiously after the ball of yarn when it was taken - that had looked so fun! - but...Friend! he waggled his whole body and did a few more hop-skips. Plaaaays!

"He doesn't seem so bad," Elibrie said, not to contradict - Faranth no! - but hoping to reassure. She flushed a little when Lusialu complimented hers, ducking her head shyly, but smiled. "Oh, only Lullaby, really." She scritched the handsome blue under his chin, and he thrummed happily. "Chomps is very grumpy and, well, he bites." He'd come by his name honestly, and there was a good reason she was keeping one hand on him. "And Snoops is very nosy and..." She gestured to the current frolicking situation. Obviously he had quite a bit of energy.

Snoops continued to be very vocal in his delight, full of cheeps and chitters as he pounced and hopped and chased around the cot with his new friend - but always careful not to get too close to Elibrie, since Chomps was in her lap and already riled. The young flit had learned very quickly not to push the paler blue! When one of Honeycomb's pounces succeeded, he squealed, not in alarm but with glee, and set to kicking and tussling.

"That does sound rather like I've heard them described." Elibrie couldn't help a little giggle when Lusialu mused that Honeycomb was a typical bronze, though she soon stifled it. Was it bad form to giggle over the most esteemed of the male dragons? She had virtually no firsthand experience, save a brief glinpse here and there of Viandarth. She really tried not to bother the dragons, even Menankith, and he was actively interested in her and her sister. Oranie really took to it far better than she did.

At Lusialu's admission that she would like a few more firelizards, Elibrie felt a twinge of guilt. As many as she'd seen since coming to the Weyr, she'd initially assumed they were quite common and relatively easy to acquire, especially as compared to elsewhere, until Juhvek had informed her that they could still cost a pretty bit if not found or gifted. "Thank you. I've been very lucky." Even if Chomps was, well, Chomps, she still adored even him. "My aunt gave me Lullaby's egg, not long after I got here. I...think she thought it would help."

And it had, a little bit. "Have you had Honeycomb long?"

Snoops couldn't have been more pleased, and wasn't the least bit put off by how physical the little play-tussle was. Lullaby was far too dignified for such play, while Chomps had no tolerance for it at all, which often left the youngest blue in need of an outlet. While Elibrie would play tug and do gentle wrestles with him, she made sure to emphasize that anything rougher was off-limits with human playmates. So with a fellow flit to rough-house with, Snoops was in heaven. Chittering, chirping flit heaven.

"I haven't watched the bronzes as much as some of the others," Elibrie admitted. After all, they were bronzes, and far above a little Candidate like her. Even in the unlikely event that Impression was actually in her future, it would certainly not be to a bronze. "Honeycomb does seem like a good boy, though. Snoops has been dying for someone to play with, the other two just don't play the way he likes to."

"I think they're good company. I suppose I can see why some wouldn't, but I like them." The young woman was often not confident about her likes, preferences, or opinions, after a life where having them had been discouraged, but she was quite secure in her love for flits. And whers, though thus far she only knew Jhulansk.

"It- It did help," she answered after taking a moment to consider. Elibrie didn't mind the question, especially as she had practically invited it...and it was nice to have someone close to her own age to talk to for bit. "It's still a lot, sometimes, being here, but the company helps."